Bruins Notebook: Daugavins finally on his way into town

Kaspars Daugavins arrived at TD Garden in the afternoon and took part in warmups before the Bruins faced the Senators, but he didn’t play. He could make his Bruins debut Thursday against the Devils.

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 3, 2013 at 3:04 AM

By Dan Cagen/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 3, 2013 at 3:04 AM

BOSTON

» Social News

Kaspars Daugavins finally is on his way to join the Bruins.

The former Senator was claimed on waivers by the Bruins last Wednesday, but a visa issue was delayed by the four-day Easter holiday weekend and he didn’t have his paperwork processed until Tuesday morning.

Daugavins arrived at TD Garden in the afternoon and took part in warmups before the Bruins faced the Senators, but he didn’t play. He could make his Bruins debut Thursday against the Devils.

However, don’t expect Daugavins to bring the shootout move he’s become known for to his new team.

Daugavins made the highlight reels last month when he pulled out a circus move in a shootout against the Bruins. Daugavins inverted his stick and pushed the puck down with the tip of the blade, then tried a spin-o-rama on Tuukka Rask that the goaltender snuffed out.

New teammate David Krejci got a kick out of watching it, but said such a move would not be welcome on the Bruins.

"We need the two points," Krejci said. "If he’s on our team it would be different. You need the points. … I think it was creative — I’ve never seen anything like that — but I wouldn’t want to like it if my teammate tried it."

Krejci said he wouldn’t talk to Daugavins about it right away though.

"Obviously you want him to fit in, you want him to feel comfortable," Krejci said. "So probably not at the start, but …"

On the mend

Both injured Bruins players skated at TD Garden for the second straight day Tuesday.

Defenseman Adam McQuaid (strained left shoulder) and center Chris Kelly (broken left tibia) have been out for two and three weeks, respectively. Both worked with strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides before the team’s morning skate.

There’s been no update on either of their return dates; McQuaid is out at least 3-4 weeks and Kelly is out indefinitely. …

Senators winger Chris Neil knocked Kelly, a former teammate, out of action with his accidental knee-to-knee hit March 11. Neil reached out to Kelly, a close friend and frequent summer workout partner, via text immediately after to apologize.

On Tuesday, he said he wished the play had happened differently.

"Obviously being a part of it and the conclusion, I felt terrible," Neil said. "I think at the end of the day, if I’d gone through him instead of trying to get out of the way, it probably would’ve been a lot better. I tried to avoid him, he tried to avoid me, and that’s when he gets hurt." …

Page 2 of 2 -
Defenseman Aaron Johnson was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Johnson struggled to handle the puck in Saturday’s loss to Philadelphia and has had his place in the lineup taken by Matt Bartkowski since.

"I don’t think it was an overall poor game, but there’s a few things that can be fixed and it’s just a matter of coming back and being better," Johnson said.

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.